Data service

Abstract

A data service system in an Intelligent Television (TV) includes an internal content provider module configured to provide content to video hardware or display of the Intelligent TV or to a content provider module or application of the Intelligent TV and a subservice configured to provide the internet content provider module with requested data for a pre-defined data model. The internal content provider module is loaded on the Intelligent TV responsive to a user action or a schedule event on the Intelligent TV, and the internal content provider module organizes the received data from the subservice as the content according to a pre-defined format. The internal content provider module includes an EPG data provider, a media data provider, a media browser, a media scanner, and/or a thumbnail engine.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of providing content for a television (TV), the method comprising:
 receiving, by a processor, data relevant to one or more scheduled events from one of a corresponding subservice of a plurality of subservices, wherein the plurality of subservices comprises a video-on-demand (VOD) subservice, electronic programming guide (EPG) subservice, and a media subservice 
 organizing, by the processor, the data according to a pre-defined format corresponding to each of the plurality of subservices, wherein the pre-defined format comprises one of a VOD data model, an EPG data model and a media data model, wherein organizing the data according to the pre-defined format comprises converting the data received from the subservice into the pre-defined format of the corresponding data model and wherein each of the VOD data model, EPG data model, and media data model provide a uniform format for the plurality of subservices; and 
 providing, by the processor, the organized data to one or more of a plurality of content provider modules of the TV. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of content provider modules comprises an EPG data provider, a media data provider, a media browser, a media scanner, and a thumbnail engine. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the EPG data provider is configured to serve one or more applications of the TV with EPG information in a read-only format. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the media data provider is configured to provide media metadata personalized for a user. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the media data provider is further configured to store the media metadata in an SQLite database. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the media browser is configured to provide a real-time view of media sources of the TV and maintain a list of connected media sources of the TV. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the media browser maintains a non-permanent storage. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the media scanner is configured to populate a media table using data retrieved by the media browser and rescan for new media periodically. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the thumbnail engine is configured to provide thumbnails for media, applications, or other contents. 
     
     
       10. A data service system in a Television (TV), the system comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform: 
 receiving data relevant to one or more scheduled events from one of a corresponding subservice of a plurality of subservices, wherein the plurality of subservices comprises a video-on-demand (VOD) subservice, an electronic programming guide (EPG) subservice, and a media subservice; 
 organizing the data according to a pre-defined format corresponding to each of the plurality of subservices, wherein the pre-defined format comprises one of a VOD data model, an EPG data model, and a media data model, wherein organizing the data according to the pre-defined format comprises converting the data received from the subservice into the pre-defined format of the corresponding data model, and wherein each of the VOD data model, EPG data model, and media data model provide a uniform format for the plurality of subservices; and 
 providing the organized data to one or more of a plurality of content provider modules of the TV. 
 
     
     
       11. The data service system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of content provider modules comprises an EPG data provider, a media data provider, a media browser, a media scanner, and/or thumbnail engine. 
     
     
       12. The data service system of  claim 11 , wherein the EPG data provider is configured to serve one or more applications of the TV with EPG information in a read-only format. 
     
     
       13. The data service system of  claim 11 , wherein the media data provider is configured to provide media metadata personalized for a user. 
     
     
       14. The data service system of  claim 11 , wherein the media browser is configured to provide a real-time view of media sources of the TV and maintain a list of connected media sources of the TV. 
     
     
       15. The data service system of  claim 11 , wherein the media scanner is configured to populate a media table using data retrieved by the media browser and rescan for new media periodically. 
     
     
       16. The data service system of  claim 11 , wherein the thumbnail engine is configured to provide thumbnails for media, applications, or other contents. 
     
     
       17. A computer program product for providing content for a Television (TV), the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied therewith, the computer-readable program code configured when executed by a processor to:
 receive data relevant to one or more scheduled events from one of a corresponding subservice of a plurality of subservices, wherein the plurality of subservices comprises a video-on-demand (VOD) subservice, an electronic programming guide (EPG) subservice, and a media subservice; 
 organize the data according to a pre-defined format corresponding to each of the plurality of subservices, wherein the pre-defined format comprises one of a VOD data model, an EPG data model, and a media data model, wherein organizing the data according to the pre-defined format comprises converting the data received from the subservice into the pre-defined format of the corresponding data model, and wherein each of the VOD data model, EPG data model, and media data model provide a uniform format for the plurality of subservices; and 
 provide the organized data to one or more of a plurality of content provider modules of the TV. 
 
     
     
       18. The intelligent TV of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of content provider modules comprises an EPG data provider, a media data provider, a media browser, a media scanner, and/or thumbnail engine.